An organization in Jasper County believes it has a use for the current bleachers on the visitor’s side of Newton’s H.A. Lynn Stadium. The Newton School District will be replacing those bleachers with new ADA-accessible bleachers, in a project that is expected to take place from December to June. Newton School Superintendent Tom Messenger says instead of going to the scrap pile, the bleachers appear headed to the Jasper County Fairgrounds in Colfax.

“The Jasper County Fair Board has expressed some interest in the set of freestanding bleachers from H.A. Lynn Stadium. So they will still be put to good use. It’s always good to see that there is a purpose for some of those things, and a local purpose that will potentially help out some folks right here in Jasper County.”

The Newton School Board took the first step this week towards transferring ownership of the bleachers to the Jasper County Fair Board for a nominal fee, possibly as low as one dollar. It would be up to the fair board to move the bleachers. Additional action on the transaction is expected at the next school board meeting on October 13th. 

The new press box and ADA-accessible bleachers with handrails and wider aisles that will be built on the visitor’s side of the stadium cost $751,550, and are coming from Caliber Concrete in Adair.